Houmus House and Gardens

The house is set in acres of gardens with fountains, waterfalls, statuary and ponds with swans. The live oaks are ancient and artistically draped with Spanish moss. 

Houmas House is a historic plantation complex in Burnside, Louisiana located on the banks of the Mississippi, named after the native Houma people, who "sold" the property to the first owners. It was established in the late 1700s originally as a trading post and later as a sugar cane plantation. The main house was completed in 1840 in the Greek Revival style. There are 8 building on the property now including the Great River Road Museum, a Hotel, and 3 restaurants. A number of movies and TV shows have been filmed here, most famously "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlotte". 

Conversation areas are scattered throughout 
the garden, each unique

There was one pair of black swans among the 
white, the female was on her nest.

Scott and I in front of one of the fountains.

It is another member of our Harvest Host program and we had an amazing time there. Our site was at the end of the parking lot and had a view of the river Levee and one of their pretty cottages. The house originally had a long alley lined with live oaks down to the dock on the river, which was the only form of transportation at one time. When the levee system was completed along the Mississippi the plantations lost their access to the river and Houmas lost half of their grand live oak lined avenue and now had a road in between it and the river. 

The lady's parlor (there was a gentlemen's one
next to it)

One of the many beautiful bedrooms

We toured both the house and the gardens, which are very extensive and beautiful. We had originally planned to have dinner at their formal Carriage House restaurant but changed our mind when we heard there was a buffet and dance band in the Dixie Room. What fun and a great meal. There is a local dance instructor who teaches jitterbug/swing and the dance floor was packed with quite accomplished dancers. 

Looking up the entrance way to the river now from the upstairs balcony.

The kitchen seemed very original. The newer
owners installed a new one in a different place.

Some of the paintings were original but most
were copies. Most of the furniture, objects,
mirrors etc. were original. That's me taking the 
photo in the mirror and the beautiful spiral
staircase beside me.

The buildings on either side here were original
and constructed back in the 1700s.

Baby in her site next to the road and levee.

The view from the top of the levee with boats 
going by, 

The next morning we had the breakfast buffet in the same Dixie Room, again excellent. As we were in no rush we walked over to the river and again, through the gardens. It was only a short hour and a half more to our next Harvest Host location - the Wildcat Brothers Distillery. More on my next post!

One section of the garden was orientally inspired.